mummy blog
Bourjois Palette Les Nudes
The Bourjois Palette Les Nudes is a perfect little cosmetic for your make-up bag. The palette is an ideal size with a variety of stunning colours that have an incredible staying power.
Frankly, I have never really been that big on eyeshadows; I am somebody who can take them or leave them. Quite often I don’t wear any eyeshadows at all. However, when I purchased this little beauty from Bourjois, I was stunned with how powerful the little eyeshadows actually are. Although the Bourjois Palette Les Nudes is a fair size, the colours themselves appear to be small. Therefore, I wasn’t too optimistic about the eyeshadows lasting me for a decent amount of time. It turns out that I couldn’t have been more wrong!
Firstly, because I am so impressed with the quality of the eyeshadows and the beautiful effect they have on my eyes, I have been wearing the Bourjois Palette Les Nudes almost every day since I purchased them, over seven months ago! After a full seven months’ worth of use, the Bourjois Palette Les Nudes is still going on strong in my make-up bag. The white eyeshadow, which I use the most has now almost entirely gone, followed by the bronze shade which has just under half left and the rest are still completely full.
The pigmentations of each of these colours are purely outstanding, and the durability is just as amazing. I usually apply the Bourjois Palette Les Nudes eyeshadows early in the morning, just before the school run and it literally lasts on my eyes for the entire day. Bourjois claim that the Palette Les Nudes eyeshadows last for up to 12 hours and I would have to agree with this statement. The eyeshadows barely even fade, if at all. After several hours of wear, the colours still look just as vibrant as they did when I put them on. Although I am talking about a typical casual day, so if your day is more physically active you may need to top the eyeshadows up again in the evening. Even when I have worn the eyeshadows in the bath or shower, they don’t slide off and smudge down my face as most eyeshadows do.
As a sleep deprived mummy, long gone are the days where I could get a full eight hours of sleep. Quite often I am lucky to get four or five good hours of sleep, and the crack of dawn wake ups are now an everyday thing. So I need all of the help I can get with my puffy eyes and enormous bags which have now become the norm. So I am so thankful as to how this little palette of gold can immediately glam up my eyes and have me looking like an ordinary woman once again, rather than a like zombie.
The Bourjois Palette Les Nudes has eight beautiful different shades in them, which allows you to create a variety of looks to wear during the day, night or to suit any occasion. The texture of the eyeshadows is so soft, and I believe this is the reason as to why they have lasted me for so long because you don’t need to use a lot of the eyeshadows on your face nor do you need to build up multiple layers. The eyeshadows blend really easy with just one simple brush and layer.
Since I have started wearing the Bourjois Palette Les Nudes a lot of people have asked me about and commented on the type of eyeshadows that I am wearing. I would definitely recommend these eyeshadows to anyone who wants to glam up their eyes, without looking over the top. I think the Bourjois Palette Les Nudes is perfect for any woman’s handbag.
If the nude collection isn’t for you, don’t worry because Bourjois also offer a Palette Les Smoky, which I imagine is just as fabulous as the Palette Les Nudes.
The Bourjois Palette Les Nudes box alone looks so adorable and chic. The box comes in a nice compact little shape, and there is a good size clear mirror inside. So if you want to take the Bourjois Palette Les Nudes out with you in your handbag, there is no need to take out a compact mirror as this already has one. Another unique thing about this product is how it opens and closes. It isn’t just an open and shut eyeshadow as most products are. Once opened, the mirror can swivel 360֯, and it also tilts at an angle which is perfect if you need to capture some good lighting. I really do love it!
Overall I can’t fault the Bourjois Palette Les Nude. In my eyes, I would have to say that the eyeshadows are worth the money and I am glad that I purchased them. Therefore, I rate the Bourjois Palette Les Nudes a glamourous 5/5 stars. Well done Bourjois you have converted me into loving eyeshadows. I will defiantly be purchasing this product again.
Hospital Bag
There is no precise time that you should pack your hospital bag for, however it is a good idea to have one packed by weeks 34/35. Some women decide to pack their hospital bags much earlier on, it is completely your choice. What exactly you pack inside of your hospital bag is entirely up to you but there are a few essentials that you should pack inside the bag that you will need for both you and your new-born baby.
Although there are companies who provide pre-made up hospital bags, and brands who sell hospital bags targeted purely at pregnant women you do not have to buy any of these products. A normal holdall, cabin bag, or even a small suitcase will do just fine.
For you:
Dressing gown
Slippers
Towel
Maternity pads – around 24
Breast pads
Paper/disposable knickers
Comfortable clothes for going home in.
A night gown that you don’t mind getting ruined or a large baggy T-shirt.
Copy of your birth plan.
Underwear (You don’t know how long you will be in the hospital for).
Non-wire/nursing bras if breastfeeding.
Hairbrush
Toiletries and make up (for photographs) including toothbrush.
Comfortable shoes
Thick, warm socks
High energy snacks
Fruit drinks
Magazines/crossword/books
Camera
Small change
Music
Tens machine
Massage oils
Front opening tops or loose fitting tops if you’re planning on breastfeeding.
For your baby:
Nappies – Newborn size
Cotton wool balls
Baby wipes
Baby blanket
Baby towel
Sleepsuits
Baby vests
Hats
Bibs
Mittens
Pair of socks or some booties
Muslin squares
An outfit for the trip home
Jacket or snowsuit
Once you have packed your hospital you should keep it somewhere that is easy to remember such s in the hallway, side of your bed or in the car ready for your trip to the hospital.
APPLE & MANGO STAR CRUMBLE
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
EQUIPMENT:
1. A STAR BISCUIT CUTTER
2. A BIG MIXING SPOON
3. A MIXING BOWL
4. WEIGHING SCALES
5. APRON
6. AN OVEN-PROOF DISH
7. A MEDIUM SIZED COOKING PAN
8. A TIMER OR CLOCK
9. PEELER/KNIFE
10. A GROWN UP HELPER
INGREDIENTS:
1. A WHOLE MANGO
2. 450G/1 LB SOFT APPLES
3. 175G /6OZ OF PLAIN FLOUR OR ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
4. 115G /4OZ CASTER SUGAR
5. 115G/4 OZ COLD BUTTER
OPTIONAL:
- SERVE WITH CUSTARD/ VANILLA ICE CREAM
PREPARATION
1.) PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 180C/GAS MARK 5
2.) WASH YOUR HANDS IN WARM SOAPY WATER.
METHOD:
1.) PEEL OR CHOP THE SKINS OFF OF THE APPLES AND THE MANGO.
2.) CHOP THE APPLES AND MANGO INTO CHUNKY PIECES. PLACE THE CHUNKY PIECES OF APPLE AND MANGO INTO A PAN AND RINSE THE FRUIT.
3.) FILL THE PAN WITH FRESH WATER, SO THAT IT COVERS ALL OF THE FRUIT. PLACE ON TOP OF THE OVEN AND BOIL FOR 15 MINUTES.
4.) WEIGH YOUR CASTER SUGAR, PLAIN FLOUR/ ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR AND BUTTER. PLACE THE FLOUR AND THE SUGAR INTO THE MIXING BOWL. STIR WITH YOUR MIXING SPOON.
5.) ADD THE BUTTER TO THE FLOUR AND SUGAR. RUB THE FLOUR, SUGAR AND BUTTER TOGETHER WITH YOUR HANDS.
6.) DRAIN THE FRUIT FROM THE PAN AND POUR EVENLY INTO AN OVEN PROOF DISH.
7.) ADD A LAYER OF CRUMBLE TOPPING ON TOP OF THE APPLE AND THE MANGO CHUNKS.
8.) PLACE THE CRUMBLE INTO THE OVEN AND BAKE UNTIL IT TURNS GOLDEN BROWN. (APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES).
9.) USE A STAR CUTTER AND PLACE IN THE CRUMBLE. YOU MAY NEED TO PLACE A SPOON UNDERNEATH THE STAR.
10.) THE APPLE & MANGO CRUMBLE IS READY TO EAT! SERVE WITH SOME CUSTARD OR VANILLA ICE CREAM.
Enjoy!
Recipe by Hannah Crawford
Baby, it’s cold outside
Baby, it’s cold outside! Are we ready for the weather to get colder? Absolutely not! Well, you might be, but I am certainly not!
The battle between cold Arctic air and milder Atlantic air is going to result in disruptive snow across the country this week. The snow was due to start falling today, and technically it has started falling in areas across Britain already – including in the countryside. Although I was expecting to wake up to a blanket of white fluffy snow this morning, it wasn’t quite the case. We had mere drizzles of snowflakes on the muddy grassy and no ice on the cars whatsoever! Which was a huge relief before the school run.
Albeit, these snow warnings are not over just yet and the Met Office has issued snow to fall for the week across the country. The temperature has definitely dropped outside and it’s not only snow we need to worry about, the weather is also bringing in so harsh cold winds.
It’s strange how most of us assume that once January and February are over with that Spring is underway, and this automatically means sunny weather. Yet, in Britain, we are more likely to have snow during this time.